The RPSO reports 79 year old Alvin Spurgeon of Boyce has been arrested and charged with attempted manslaughter after he allegedly shot an unidentified woman, after an altercation, in the Cotile lake area last week. The woman’s injuries were non-life threatening. Spurgeon was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center, where he remains in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s department has arrested 39 year old Joahua Childrey of Ball and charged him with attempted carjacking and a parole violation, for an incident that occurred over the weekend. The victim explained that as they slowed down in an attempt to not hit the individual, the suspect went to the passenger-side door and attempted to get in. The attempt failed because the car doors were locked and the victim was able to drive away.

It’s been almost a year since the IRS began mailing out enforcement letters requiring businesses of a certain size to fill out mandatory information related to their compliance with Obamacare. Economist for BlueCross BlueShield Mike Bertaut says it’s been a big wakeup call to many Louisiana employers who assumed they were small enough to avoid many ACA regulations. He says be sure you are covered, or you may be in for a big and expensive surprise.

Local and parish taxing authorities, whether they like it or not, are going to have to forgive taxes on the sales of guns and hunting equipment for a holiday that the state created then opted out of last month. Suspending Louisiana’s three sales tax holidays, to the surprise of some legislators, was part of a deal that was slammed together to keep state government from careening off the fiscal cliff. Unlike the other two annual sales tax holidays, one for hurricane preparedness, the other for school supplies, wording that requires local participation is written into the 2009 state law that created the Second Amendment holiday. Local governments, school boards and other taxing authorities stand to lose about $500,000 from exempting the sales taxes.

A recent survey shows Louisiana is lagging behind in gender equality, ranking the seventh worst state, specifically as relates to financial issues. Wallet Hub analyst Jill Gonzales says Louisiana does not have many women in elected positions, and believes more females in office could move the needle on the issue. Gonzales says the gender wage gap isn’t just a Louisiana problem as it is an issue across the nation.

The state has terminated an agreement with Bell Helicopter in Lafayette, saying the company failed to live up to manufacturing commitments at a $26.3 million state-funded facility designed for aerospace assembly operations. State officials said that under terms in the agreement allowing termination for cause, the state is entitled to a $16 million payment from Bell Helicopter and expects to separately pursue additional damages.

Suspended LSU guard Ed Ingram was arrested on sexual assault counts involving a minor. The arrest happened earlier this month in Dallas County, Texas, but it’s not clear when the incident occurred. According to the LSU Athletic Department Code of Conduct, any athlete who receives felony charges will be immediately suspended. Ingram has since been released on a bail amount of $40,000.

Senator Bill Cassidy is back from his trip to Central America where he visited with the Guatemalan President and officials from the Mexican government to discuss trade, immigration, and drug trafficking. Cassidy says trade tensions have spread to nearly every major American partner in the wake of an escalating trade war initiated by the Trump administration in the hopes of winning fairer deals for American exports. Mexico, which is Louisiana’s second biggest trade partner, has been hit with tariffs. Cassidy says he’s looking to maintain positive relations while NAFTA negotiations are underway that could end the trade dispute.

A family is protesting a Terrytown Catholic school’s decision to send their African American daughter home on the first day of classes for hair that the school says violates the New Orleans Archdiocese dress code. The incident has drawn national attention after a social media filmed inside Christ the King Middle School. NAACP Baton Rouge President Michael McClanahan is calling for a boycott of the school. The Archdiocese says “The policy was communicated to all parents during the summer and again before the first day of school.”

A 17-year-old Breaux Bridge man has been charged with a series of crime after authorities began an investigation into alleged improper behavior with a juvenile on July 23rd. Due to the nature of the crimes, Peter Castille will be charged as an adult in a kidnapping case involving another minor.

A man is charged with his fourth DWI after allegedly driving around gas pumps flaunting a gun in the air. Keithon J. Dixon of Baton Rouge was arrested for his reckless driving and Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says one witness described it as like something out of a movie. Dixon allegedly had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech and admitted to drinking a half pint of vodka before the incident.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry has released the 20th edition of the Legislative Scorecard. LABU is honoring legislators they believe showcases a voting record in line with the principles of free enterprise. LABI President Steve Waugespack says over forty legislators in the recent session scored a 90% or higher. Waugespack says the report brings attention to issues they believe were positives to come out of the session.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is touring the bayou state, holding open community conversations with DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters, addressing issues relating to child welfare and poverty. Walters says there are tour stops in several cities in South Louisiana this week, but the road trip doesn’t end there. Walters says with the recent age extension of foster care benefits from 18 to now, 21, she plans on addressing the implementation process.